Follow the Money
We recently held a special ‘Follow the Money’ training focused on tracking the campaign cash—and political influence—in Illinois state and local elections. This timely event, held May 26, comes after big spending in Illinois’ recent primary elections.
This training covers both Reform for Illinois’ Sunshine Campaign Finance database and the Illinois State Board of Elections websites. Watch the training recording above to learn how to find information on donations to political committees, search for super PAC expenditures, and track the money in a given race.
Training leaders are Alisa Kaplan, Executive Director of Reform for Illinois, and Kiley Marron, Associate Director of Reform for Illinois.
This training is sponsored by Reform for Illinois, the League of Women Voters of Chicago, Citizen Action Illinois, Asian American Midwest Progressives, Alderman Matt Martin (47th Ward) & Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen (12th District).
Campaign Finance Resources
Follow the money in Illinois: Illinois Sunshine; Illinois State Board of Elections
Read RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan’s recent op-ed on super PACs here: Alisa Kaplan: Here’s what can be done about super PACs in Illinois
Learn more about dark money: Dark Money Basics • OpenSecrets
Learn more about Citizens United: Citizens United, Explained | Brennan Center for Justice; How Does the Citizens United Decision Still Affect Us in 2026? | Campaign Legal Center
Check out RFI’s proposals to fix the self-funding loophole: Six Ways to Fix Illinois’ Self-Funding Loophole
Learn more about super PACs and “coordination”: Super PACs keep testing the limits of campaign finance law - POLITICO
Great coverage of money in politics in Illinois: Politics for sale: Big money floods Illinois campaigns with few rules and little enforcement; Big money, big problems. Deep-pocketed, self-funding candidates and dark money mar Illinois politics - Chicago Sun-Times
Recommended Illinois State Board of Elections resources (all downloadable under Campaign Disclosure > General Information and Assistance): Infographic Guide to Campaign Disclosure, A Guide to Campaign Disclosure
Get Involved
Contact your state reps about RFI’s dark money exposure bill, HB 5154
Learn more about the Chicago Fair Elections Ordinance: Fair Elections Chicago
Tuesday, June 9, 6-8 PM at AAMP: People Powered Campaigns: A Grassroots Discussion with AAMP & 33WF | Asian American Midwest Progressives
Friday, June 26, 11:30-1:30 PM at the Union League Club of Chicago: Sign up for Reform for Illinois’ mailing list for more information about Civil Disagreements: Is Money in Politics a Threat to American Democracy?
Saturday, September 12, 12-3 PM at Labagh Woods: Fall Nature Fest | Commissioner Degnen
